Pigskin Picks: It's finally time for football

Thursday

Aug 22, 2013 at 11:23 PM

By BRITTANY JACKSONTimes-News Staff Writer

The first week of prep sports has gone off swimmingly as high school athletes and students are soaking in the final few days of summer. The key words there are soaking up; not of the sun, but think more in terms of soaking up the excess water from all this rain. Like what sponges do. And what athletes playing outdoor sports have done this week in practice. No, the first week hasn't gone so well for everyone. It's really just been inside-only volleyball that has enjoyed a smooth first week of games. All other outdoor sports have started their seasons scrambling to move, cancel and postpone games — something I know coaches hate to do considering they're trying to ready their teams for conference play. I had the opportunity to sit in for Dennis Little on Monday night for this season's first WTZQ "In the Zone" high school sports radio show, with Ron Wagner. Shameless plug for them: If you haven't listened to the show, do it. Tune in Monday evenings at 5:30 p.m. for a quick synopsis of the previous week's games, witty humor and special guest call-ins. Once I get over my initial on-the-air jitters each time I co-host I find that I enjoy having the opportunity to dive into the radio realm of the media. It's really just a conversation, and I probably share a bit more opinion than I should on the local sports teams. But it's hard to keep quiet with Ron sharing his own thoughts on prep sports. Talking things over with Ron, primarily about football, made me realize that we might be in for some surprises this year from several of the local teams; namely, Brevard, North Henderson and West Henderson. (Another shameless plug: You'll see what I'm talking about if you pick up your copy of this year's football tab that hit the stands Thursday, folks.) Based on the first-game matchups, none of our local teams are easing into the season tonight, which made me — and I'm sure several of our other Pigskin Pickers, Dean, Mike, Ron, Dennis and newcomer Joey Millwood (a Times-News reporter) — experience a few more involuntary cringes than normal while making this week's picks. Here we go, 2013…

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Asheville at Hendersonville The Bearcats came away with a thrilling win last year over the Cougars, and Big Red gets to play host once again. But Asheville won't be intimidated by the location or last year's outcome. … ASHEVILLE, 28-21. Swain County at East Henderson It was a close one last year on Swain's turf, but the Maroon Devils have mostly reloaded while the Eagles will struggle from losing more than 20 seniors to graduation. … SWAIN, 35-20. Madison at West Henderson They showed youthful potential last season, going farther in the postseason than any other Western Highlands Conference team, and now Madison's youth has transformed into experience. … MADISON, 27-17. Rosman at Brevard Ahh, the ol' rivalry has been awakened. Brevard has been down the past several years — way down — but new coach Jason Lippard is on his way to resurrecting one of the state's historically most successful programs, and he's got the numbers, the talent and the drive to do it. … BREVARD, 19-14. Shelby at Polk County Can you say, rematch? From the last game of the season for the Wolverines. Polk has the drive of a bitter taste in its mouth after Shelby dashed its 2012 postseason hopes, and with a full, healthy roster (2012 quarterback Alec Philpott was injured in the early moments of last year's showdown) the Wolverines' chances are good for a home win tonight. … POLK, 28-21. North Henderson at T.C. Roberson It looks like the Rams have picked up the Knights in place of West Henderson to open their season this year. Even with an improved team and quarterback starting Year 3 on varsity, the small-3-A Knights won't have the manpower to overcome the depth of 4-A Roberson. … ROBERSON, 35-21. OTHER GAMESERWIN at East Rutherford Owen at ENKAMCDOWELL at R-S Central PISGAH at North Buncombe A.C. REYNOLDS at West Forsyth TUSCOLA at Cherokee Andrews at SMOKY MOUNTAIN Mitchell at WEST WILKESRabun Gap (Ga.) at ROBBINSVILLE HAYESVILLE at Towns County (Ga.)

ASHEVILLE at Hendersonville SWAIN COUNTY at East Henderson MADISON at West Henderson Rosman at BREVARDSHELBY at Polk County North Henderson at T.C. ROBERSONERWIN at East Rutherford OWEN at EnkaMCDOWELL at R-S Central PISGAH at North Buncombe A.C. REYNOLDS at West Forsyth TUSCOLA at Cherokee Andrews at SMOKY MOUNTAINMITCHELL at West Wilkes Rabun Gap (Ga.) at ROBBINSVILLEHAYESVILLE at Towns County (Ga.)

ASHEVILLE at Hendersonville SWAIN COUNTY at East Henderson MADISON at West Henderson Rosman at BREVARD SHELBY at Polk County North Henderson at T.C. ROBERSON Erwin at EAST RUTHERFORD OWEN at EnkaMCDOWELL at R-S Central PISGAH at North Buncombe A.C. REYNOLDS at West Forsyth TUSCOLA at Cherokee Andrews at SMOKY MOUNTAIN Mitchell at WEST WILKES Rabun Gap (Ga.) at ROBBINSVILLE HAYESVILLE at Towns County (Ga.)

ASHEVILLE at Hendersonville SWAIN COUNTY at East Henderson MADISON at West Henderson ROSMAN at Brevard SHELBY at Polk County North Henderson at T.C. ROBERSON ERWIN at East Rutherford Owen at ENKAMCDOWELL at R-S Central PISGAH at North Buncombe A.C. REYNOLDS at West Forsyth TUSCOLA at Cherokee Andrews at SMOKY MOUNTAIN Mitchell at WEST WILKES Rabun Gap (Ga.) at ROBBINSVILLE HAYESVILLE at Towns County (Ga.)

ASHEVILLE at Hendersonville SWAIN COUNTY at East Henderson MADISON at West HendersonRosman at BREVARDSHELBY at Polk County North Henderson at T.C. ROBERSON ERWIN at East Rutherford OWEN at EnkaMCDOWELL at R-S Central PISGAH at North Buncombe A.C. REYNOLDS at West Forsyth TUSCOLA at Cherokee Andrews at SMOKY MOUNTAIN Mitchell at WEST WILKES Rabun Gap (Ga.) at ROBBINSVILLEHAYESVILLE at Towns County (Ga.)

Asheville at HENDERSONVILLESwain County at EAST HENDERSON MADISON at West Henderson ROSMAN at Brevard SHELBY at Polk County North Henderson at T.C. ROBERSON ERWIN at East Rutherford OWEN at EnkaMCDOWELL at R-S Central PISGAH at North Buncombe A.C. Reynolds at WEST FORSYTH TUSCOLA at Cherokee Andrews at SMOKY MOUNTAIN Mitchell at WEST WILKES Rabun Gap (Ga.) at ROBBINSVILLEHAYESVILLE at Towns County (Ga.)

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